Who Is At Risk for Macular Telangiectasia?

Type 2 macular telangiectasia occurs primarily in middle-aged adults. Both men and women are equally affected. If you have a systemic disease such as diabetes or hypertension, you may be at increased risk for getting macular telangiectasia. The disease seems to run in some families so there may be a genetic predisposition but this is not yet completely understood. However, in most cases, there is no known cause for the disease if found.

Type 1 macular telangiectasia is associated with Coat’s disease, a rare congenital eye disorder diagnosed in childhood, and is found almost entirely in males. Type 1 macular telangiectasia diagnosis is usually made around age 40.